Free Waking Up alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

3 of the 3 Waking Up alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Headspace	Free plan + paid	$99.99 a year for up to 6 people	No	iOS, Android, Web	6 of 6	68.8
2	Calm	Free plan + paid	$79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial	No	iOS, Android, Web	5 of 5	64.8
3	Insight Timer	Free plan + paid	$9.99 a month (MemberPlus)	No	iOS, Android, Web	8 of 8	61.8

1. HeadspaceTop pick
Best for: Beginners who want structured courses and a tidy app, and students on the cheap plan
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from Waking Up
Simpler, friendlier courses for beginners who want a gentle structured path.
Pros
Structured beginner courses starting from Basics
Sleep, focus music and movement sessions in one app
Family plan for six and a low-cost student plan
14-day free trial on the yearly plan
Cons
Little free content without a subscription
App increasingly promotes coaching and therapy services
Courses can feel basic for experienced meditators
Visit Headspace Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Headspace a good Waking Up alternative?
Verified facts
6 of 6 verified
Free trial
14 days
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
Family plan
$99.99 a year for up to 6 people
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
Student plan
$9.99/yr for verified students
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
Minimum age
18+, with limited exceptions
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
Part of Sword
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
Student discount
$9.99 a year for verified students
Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Calm
Best for: People who want a large library of sleep stories, music and guided sessions in one paid app
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from Waking Up
Much more sleep and relaxation content, including Sleep Stories and music.
Pros
Very large sleep library: Sleep Stories, soundscapes and music
Clear starter programs: 7 Days and 21 Days of Calm
Runs on phones, web, Apple TV and smartwatches
Family plan and a one-time lifetime option
Cons
Most content needs a paid subscription
Prices differ between web, App Store and Google Play
Sleep-heavy library is more than some meditators need
Visit Calm Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Calm a good Waking Up alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Yearly price (web)
$79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
Sleep Stories
500+ narrated Sleep Stories
Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
Devices
iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS
Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starter programs
7 Days of Calm, then 21 Days of Calm
Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
Breathing tool
60-second Breathe Bubble
Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. Insight Timer
Best for: People who want a large free library and a flexible timer without paying for a subscription
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Waking Up
Mostly free, with a huge library from thousands of teachers across traditions.
Pros
Most of a 200,000+ track library is free
Thousands of teachers across many styles and traditions
Customisable timer for unguided sessions
Live events and community groups
Cons
Quality varies widely between teachers
Size makes it hard to find a clear starting path
Courses and offline listening need Member Plus
Visit Insight Timer Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Insight Timer a good Waking Up alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Free content
200,000+ tracks, mostly free
Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Paid tier
Member Plus, $59.99/yr
Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Teachers
18,000+
Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Paid features
Courses, advanced journaling, offline listening
Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Company
Insight Network Inc.
Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
MemberPlus annual plan
$59.99 a year
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)

Quick comparison

1. HeadspaceTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Calm

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Insight Timer

Pros

Cons

Verified facts